Pack Named Assistant Softball Coach At Upstate
8/1/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Aug. 1, 2008
Spartanburg, S.C. - USC Upstate head coach Chris Hawkins has announced the hiring of Bryan Pack as assistant coach with the program. Pack will assist in all facets of the program with emphasis on coaching the infielders.
"I am excited that Bryan has chosen to further his coaching career here at Upstate," said Hawkins. "He has a sound knowledge of the game, is energetic, and has already achieved a level of success in the coaching world. He will complement the coaching staff already in place and help the program in a variety of ways."
"I would like to thank Coach Hawkins for giving me the opportunity to coach at USC Upstate," said Pack. "I look forward to learning more about the game and working with Coach Hawkins and the team. The program had a tremendous first season in Division I and I hope to be able to come in and do what I can to help the team stay at the top of the Atlantic Sun Conference."
Pack came to Upstate after serving as an assistant coach at Spartanburg Methodist College under head coach Rick Pauly the last two years. He was part of the resurgence of the softball program at SMC, helping turnaround a team that was 3-30 in 2005 to a team that finished the 2008 season with a 27-3 record. The Pioneers won the Region X Championship for the first time in 13 years and earned a berth in the NJCAA National Tournament, finishing fifth in the nation.
"I would like to thank Rick Pauly for giving me the opportunity to start coaching on the collegiate level," said Pack. "He helped me learn more and more each day I was around him, not only in softball, but also about life. Rick is a best friend, teacher and role model all in one."
Pack got his start as a coach of fastpitch softball in 2004, assisting with travel ball teams before accepting the assistant position at SMC in 2006. He has maintained his involvement in summer travel ball, starting the Carolina Elite 18U Gold team in 2008, the first team in the state of South Carolina to compete on the Gold level. The team recorded a winning percentage of .750 this summer playing in tournaments throughout the country.
Pack attended USC Upstate from 1998-01. While attending Upstate, he got his start in the coaching world as a youth basketball coach at First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, coaching 3rd and 4th-grade boys from 1998-2000. After leaving Upstate, he was the coach of the Lady Magic 12U AAU girls basketball team from 2002-05. The team combined for a 51-4 record over three years, winning the state championship in 2005.
In addition to his coaching experience, Pack also served as an umpire. From 1999-04, he traveled throughout the Southeast umpiring baseball on the college, high school and travel ball. At the height of his umpiring career, he umpired 338 games in 2004.
